Santa Clara County

Wig Helps Link East Palo Alto Woman to Nine Bay Area Bank Robberies: Sheriff

A woman from East Palo Alto has been arrested in connection with nine Bay Area bank robberies, the Santa Clara County Sheriff said Monday, who linked the heists in part, to a wig found in her home.

Mary Mapa allegedly began her crime spree on June 3, when the sheriff's office said she robbed a Cupertino HSBC Bank on De Anza Boulevard with a firearm. Since then, she has robbed banks in Livermore, Morgan Hill, Walnut Creek, Napa, Manteca, Sunnyvale, San Mateo and Palo Alto, the sheriff’s office said.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Mapa at her home on Aug. 3 after searching her house and locating clothing used during the different robberies, cash from the bank, a wig and a handgun.

Mapa is currently being held at the Santa Clara County Jail. Efforts to reach her on Monday were unsuccessful.

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